Pep Guardiola has leaped to the defence of Erling Haaland, insisting that the Manchester City talisman should not burden himself with the pressure of a relentless goalscoring quota. The manager’s comments follow a period of uncharacteristic scarcity for the Norwegian striker, despite his heroics in a crucial 2-1 victory over Liverpool.
Form vs Statistics: The Anfield Decider
While Haaland secured the points with a high-pressure stoppage-time penalty at Anfield, the strike was notably only his third goal in ten appearances. With only one of those coming from open play, the 25-year-old was self-critical following the match, vowing to improve his output and refusing to use exhaustion as an excuse. Guardiola, however, was quick to remind critics of the striker’s immense contribution across the current campaign.
“We cannot forget he is young; this is part of the process,” Guardiola remarked, noting that the striker is still evolving. “Every season he lives makes him a better player for the next. He is learning his body and what it truly means to compete every three days at this level. If he does not have the numbers he desires right now, we must remember we are in this title race precisely because of him.”
The Burden of the Calendar
Guardiola attributed Haaland’s perceived dip in form to a congested fixture schedule rather than a lack of quality. He highlighted that without Haaland’s 28 goals in 36 appearances this season, City’s ambitions in both the Premier League and the Champions League would have been significantly hampered.
| Statistic | Erling Haaland (2025/26 Season) |
| Total Appearances | 36 |
| Total Goals | 28 |
| Recent Form | 3 Goals in 10 Games |
| Anfield Body Language | “Fire in his eyes” |
| Primary Concern | Calendar/Fatigue |
Khusanov: The “Intelligent” Defensive Revelation
Beyond the frontline, Guardiola took time to praise the emergence of 21-year-old Uzbek defender Abdukodir Khusanov. Having started the last ten matches, Khusanov has become a vital cog in the City machine. Despite a scare at Anfield involving a suspected concussion, tests have cleared the youngster to face Fulham at the Etihad Stadium this Wednesday.
Addressing the language barrier, Guardiola was characteristically witty: “He does not speak like William Shakespeare yet, but his understanding of our system is exceptional. He is incredibly intelligent. People assume that because he is so physical, strong, and fast, he might lack tactical depth, but it is the polar opposite. He always makes the right decision.”
Guardiola’s dual praise for his veteran striker and his burgeoning defender suggests a manager focused on psychological management as the season enters its most gruelling phase.